Busy month at Mauch Chunk Opera House

There's a lot happening this month at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe.

On Friday, if you're looking for the perfect blend of rock, funk, dance and New Wave, then Start Making Sense, the Talking Heads-Hall and Oates Tribute concert, might be just what you're looking for.

The musicians in this seven-piece band re-create the music and the magic of the Talking Heads' entire career, and they do it flawlessly.

Together they bring the Heads' blockbuster live show to the stage once again, with frontman Jon Braun as a spot-on David Byrne.

Start Making Sense also morphs into the ultimate Hall and Oates tribute band, and kicks off their dual tribute concert with this great music.

At 8 p.m. Saturday the opera house welcomes Craig Thatcher Band and friends for their annual Rockin' Christmas Concert.

Lehigh Valley's pre-eminent guitarist and bandleader has an exciting lineup of regional musicians and other talented friends as they play a broad variety of holiday tunes in a rockin' style. This special holiday concert is part of Jim Thorpe's 34th Olde Time Christmas Festival.

On Dec. 17, 40 Story Radio Tower returns with its Christmas special for an evening of original work put before a live audience and recorded live for download on iTunes.

On Dec. 18, Butchy Sochorow and his Splintered Sunlight mates will perform a Grateful Dead Holiday Show. From its authentic two-drumset lineup, to Butchy Sochorow's soaring lead guitar and naturally dead-on Jerry-like voice, to Dan Leyden's rhythms and Bob Weir vocals, Splintered can do it all in a big way.

On Dec. 19 Philadelphia's Premier Neo-Burlesque Troupe appears at the opera house.

The troupe consists of chorus girls, hilarious emcees, and an eight-piece band they call The Striptease Orchestra. The Revue brings all that one would expect from a burlesque and cabaret show and then some. The show has been named "the best troupe in the world" by Philadelphia Magazine.

On Dec. 26 it's the popular Bruce Springsteen tribute band, The B-Street Band featuring original E-Street Band drummer, Vini "Mad Dog" Lopez.

Recently inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, Lopez backed Springsteen from 1968 to 1974 in several bands and performed on Springsteen's first two albums, the classics "Greetings from Asbury Park" and "The Wild, the Innocent, and the E-Street Shuffle."

For over 34 years Forte and his comrades have performed all over and off the map. There have been parties with Bruce look-alikes; gigs with Clarence Clemons, the late saxophonist in the E Street Band; and opening slots for the Boss's final shows at the now-demolished Spectrum in Philadelphia, one of his favorite venues.

Tickets for all concerts are available by calling 570-325-0249 and online at MCOHJT.COM. Tickets are also available at Sound Check Records in downtown Jim Thorpe at 570-325-4009 and at the opera house the day of show.

Parking is available and free after 5 p.m. at the Carbon County lot behind the train station.